By Sam Barer

Sound Classics

Sports Car Market sent our a report this week detailing an unfortunate issue with the high bidder of the 2008 Bugatti Veyron at the Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Auction. After the gavel fell on live television, this winning bidder backed out of the $770,000 purchase (including premium), which was the top seller at the event.

Back in 2007, a minor firestorm resulted from an issue between B-J and a seller of a ‘Cuda at its flagship Arizona auction. After finger pointing, many media reports, tons of comments on blogs and chat boards, a lawsuit, a settlement, and too much time and headaches, the issue was solved. But lessons were learned on all sides about how similar disputes might be played out in the future.

Evidently, Barrett-Jackson was on the ball for the latest round of auction snafu. While an entirely different type of issue, B-J did exactly what they should have done: immediately announce the problem, get ahead of the story, and find a quick solution: offer the car for sale again. Even as the deadbeat bidder was leaving the event, Craig Jackson announced he would buy the car to maintain the sale. Later a B-J customer inquired about buying the car from Mr. Jackson, although it is not clear if the deal for the car has been finalized.

Kudos to Barrett-Jackson for doing what many large businesses often fail to do: learn and evolve to deal with the next crisis. They played this one perfectly.

Continue reading "Barrett-Jackson’s Bugatti Veyron Snafu Spotlights Lessons Learned" »

By Jen Dunnaway

Editor

It looks like now is the time to snap up an inexpensive 70′s car if you’ve been wanting one, or to hang onto the one you have for a few more years, because the Barrett-Jackson crowd is beginning to get wind of the fact that they’re awesome. At the auction in Vegas this week, the expected pony- and muscle cars fetched the big bucks, like a ’72 Camaro for $30,250 (no big surprise there). But even big-boat sedans are creeping up there: a ’78 Eldorado went for $8,470 and a ’74 Caprice convertible for $7,425. This 1970 Rebel Machine, pretty collectible for an AMC, hit right in the middle with a closing price of $19,800. Meanwhile, regular AMC Rebels are currently listed on eBay for between $1,000 and $12K, and I found this running convertible on craigslist for $2,500 and this gorgeous ’69 SST for $5,500. If you’re looking to get one of the more obscure or less desirable 60s or 70s cars, it’s probably a good idea to move on it while the prices are still within the realm of sanity. See more on the 70′s cars of Barret-Jackson on SPEED.

Continue reading "70′s Cars At Barrett-Jackson" »

By Karan Singh

StreetFire.net

Perfect for any fan of American muscle! Lots more Barrett-Jackson coverage at SPEED.

BJ: ’70 Buick GSX Stage 1

By Jen Dunnaway

Editor

The Barrett-Jackson collector-car auction is happening this week in Vegas, and one of the flagship cars that’ll be going across the block is this 1985 Camaro, signed by just about every artist who took part in the Live Aid concert for world hunger that year. Ozzy Ozbourne, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Run DMC, Tom Petty, at least half of the Rolling Stones, The Four Tops, Bette Midler, Carlos Santana, Robert Plant and Bo Diddly have all put their scribbles on it. A little acetone and some buffing and this’d make a great ultra-low-miles 3rd gen IROC. Whoops! I mean…

Speaking of ruining the hobby, SPEED is running a fantasy bid contest wherein you get to guess the sums that bidders will fork out for the Barrett-Jackson cars this week in the world’s most well-televised frenzy of automotive conspicuous consumption. Hey, you could win an iPad. Anyway, read about the Live Aid Camaro on the SPEED website, and see a ton more pics of it here.

By Fireball Tim

Movie Car Design Master

Serious machines in a serious situation? Well, it’s a buyer’s market is all I have to say. Cars were going out the door at astonishing prices. A 1969 Mustang Mach 1 Fastback, cherry @ $29K. That’s a heartbreaker to the seller, but a golden op for the buyer. I’m glad I left my wallet in the car… I did buy a Johnny Lightning. Cool.

What stood out? The best of Barrett Jackson in the OC below…. but click HERE for over 50 shots of best cars on the FT Blog.

Photos: John Faulkner

Continue reading "Fireball Wrangles the Best of Barrett Jackson OC" »

By Matt D'Andria

Motorator.com

For a third year Super Chevy Magazine has enlisted Route 66 Motorsports, a custom auto restoration shop out of Chicago, and have teamed up with the Armed Forces Foundation (AFF) to build the third Project American Heroes car, a fully restored and highly modified 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle.

Super Chevy’s Project American Heroes brings this timeless classic to the auction block to raise money for AFF programs nationwide. This year’s car will be auctioned at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Orange County, CA, the first at this location, on June 26th. Check out the photos and specs of this amazing muscle car.

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

I thought this car looked pretty cool at SEMA, and was glad to hear it fetched $130,000 at Barrett-Jackson on Saturday. Proceeds from the sale will go to the Petty Family Foundation and its charities, which include Victory Junction and Paralyzed Veterans of America. Via Autoblog

By Dan Strohl

Hemmings

From the WTF files: Our man Jeff Koch just gave us the heads up that this 1972 Honda Z600 Coupe sold at Barrett-Jackson for $27,500. From the information sheet: “Car is finished in good Honda bright Sport Yellow over great sheet metal. Interior is new and correct black vinyl. All new chrome, bumpers and trim. Only 35,100 actual miles. All suspension, engine, exhaust system, rack & pinion, clutch and undercarriage has been rebuilt and detailed.”

By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

And I’m loving this A12 Road Runner, which hits the auction block on Saturday. Check out the full list of cars. Which is your favorite, and how much do you think it will go for?

Continue reading "Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Starts This Week" »

By Matt D'Andria

Motorator.com

If you’re heading out to Scottsdale, AZ for the Barrett-Jackson auction this week with a pocket full of cash and want to do the right thing, then check out the Hurst Mustang. BFGoodrich and Hurst will be auctioning off a 2010 Hurst Mustang Pace Car convertible with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Victory Junction Camp, a year-round facility that serves children with chronic medical conditions and serious illness. As an added bonus, the winner of the auction will get to shoot stuff with racing icon Kyle Petty. Jump over to Motorator for more information and specs on the Hurst Mustang.